Deputy Minister-Designate for Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, has dismissed claims of a return to prolonged power outages, commonly known as ‘dumsor’.
He acknowledged that while some parts of the country have experienced sporadic power cuts, these do not amount to a full-scale national crisis.
Appearing before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Mr. Gyan-Mensah stressed that the current power interruptions are mainly due to ongoing maintenance work on key power infrastructure, particularly the West African Gas Pipeline.
“Dumsor is not back. We all experienced a period of ‘dumsor’ in the past, and we know how severe it was, with scheduled power outages. What we are seeing now is different. Yes, there have been some power cuts in certain areas, but this does not amount to ‘dumsor’ as we knew it,” he clarified.
Explaining the reasons behind the recent outages, Mr. Gyan-Mensah revealed that maintenance work on the West African Gas Pipeline has affected gas supply to thermal plants in Takoradi and other areas.
“Most of our thermal plants depend on gas from Nigeria, and since the pipeline is undergoing maintenance, we are unable to transport gas from Takoradi. The government has made provisions for liquid fuel as an alternative, but some plants run exclusively on LPG, which has caused disruptions,” he stated.
He assured Ghanaians that the situation would stabilize by March 6, 2025, when the maintenance work is expected to be completed.
“The West African Gas Pipeline Company has assured that by March 6, the maintenance will be done. Once that happens, we will have enough gas to power our thermal plants, and these interruptions will end. I can confidently say that with my Minister in place, we will ensure that ‘dumsor’ does not return,” he pledged.
On the issue of Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) privatization, Mr. Gyan-Mensah backed the idea, arguing that it would help attract capital investment and address inefficiencies in ECG’s operations.
“ECG currently needs a capital injection. There are several inefficiencies in the system, and I believe bringing in the private sector will play a key role in resolving these challenges. It will also make ECG financially stable and ensure a more reliable power supply,” he explained.
He reassured stakeholders, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC), that the proposed privatization would not mean a total sale of ECG. Instead, the focus would be on outsourcing distribution, billing, and collections to private companies to improve efficiency.
“The government is not selling ECG entirely. The focus is on the distribution segment, particularly billing and collections. Local investors will also be prioritized under Ghana’s local content laws, so foreign entities will not have full control,” he added.
Mr. Gyan-Mensah reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring stable electricity supply, emphasizing that efforts are being made to expand power generation, improve transmission infrastructure, and eliminate inefficiencies in the sector.
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